all the way down to clinton at st.. they are working on this situation at the present time. they say if you have any water pressure at all, it will be very low water pressure. they hope to have this done by tonight. reporting live with sky team 11, is a captain roy taylor. >> thank you but, roy. the heartache and the good buys continue in newtown, conn.. >> the town devastated by a savage attack is trying to work through funerals for 26 victims, most of them first graders. our correspondent joins us from newtown with the latest. >> good evening from newtown, conn., where it has been another rough day. students gathering to mourn two

more classmates. the pain of saying goodbye has become part of everyday now in newtown. this grieving community buried two more at first graders today. jessica rekos led to plan and organize so much, their family calls per their ceo. james mattioli ended most of his days cuddled on the couch with his mom. >> they kept saying -- the boy had a big gun and a little gun. i could not -- i could not fathom what they were talking about. >> he found the boys huddled in his yard after they ran past the gunman to escape.

>> the two boys just started talking. i had no idea what happened. they said "we can go back into the school." -- we cannot go back into the school. because our teacher is gone." >> students did go back today, except those from sandy hook elementary. every campus had extra security. >> i do not think you are ever ready. i think that as much as things can get back to normal, we have to. >> though most here to understand that normal mean something very different now. but what can be a normal when you are talking about burying 6 and 7-year-old kids. one of the first of adults in

this tragedy will be laid to rest. wbal tv-11 news. >> it can never, ever be normal. gov. martin o'malley is determined to introduce legislation to prevent similar mass shootings here in maryland and he is meeting with his cabinet to discuss the issue. he joins a chorus of state and federal leaders demanding action. lowell melser joins us with more. >> the police and really began yesterday -- the pleas really began yester day in towson. you had county executives asking for a closer look at the state gun laws. >> gun violence is a public health epidemic. >> the baltimore county police chief who also chairs the national law enforcement partnership to prevent gun

violence highlights what many are feeling around the state after the shootings in newtown, conn., and now the same elected officials are calling for new gun control laws. >> we must take immediate action to pursue reasonable gun safety legislation, not only in our state, but in our nation. >> over in howard county, they have formed a task force to look of school safety and mental health. also the current gun laws. >> hopefully, we can agree that there ought to be basic steps that can be taken to ensure that people are responsible in owning a weapon and take a look at what kind of weapons are appropriate to be on the street. >> senator barbara mikulski has called for it two-step approach, taking a look at the culture of violence and offering more mental health benefits. >> i think this is a watershed

moment in our country. we need each other, whether it is to support gun-control, or the nra, who should promote good ideas, and we can protect the constitution. but we have to protect our people. >> governor malloy says he supports going -- looking at the -- gov. o'malley says he supports looking at the gun issue. >> i do not have a bill to present to your. it is still a work in progress. but it is work that i would guess every state in the union is going to undertake. >> as far as reaction from gun stores, we call several gun stores that declined on-camera interviews. they confirmed that they are selling guns at record rates. we were referred to a news release that read in part "we find it callous and disrespectful that certain politicians and gun-control advocates are so focused on

their political agenda that they could not find it in their hearts to refrain from publicly exploiting this heartbreaking tragedy until after the victims had been returned to their families and their loved ones." >> the democrat from montgomery county, also the share of the judicial proceeds committee in annapolis, will announce what he is calling an anti-gun violence package. he hopes to get the ball rolling to look at those maryland gun laws. i am lowell melser, wbal tv-11 news. >> just in the last 20 minutes or so, an official -- officials with the national rifle association have issued their first public statement since the shooting on friday. that statement reads in part " out of respect for families and as a matter for common decency, we have given time for mourning,

prayer, and a full investigation before commenting." they say that the nra is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to ensure that this does not happen again. >> on the very morning of the connecticut shooting, some of the nation's top experts on school discipline were having a conversation here in maryland about troubled students. hundreds of educators from all over the country met to share notes on where to draw the line when it comes to suspending or expelling students. nationwide, more than 3 million students were sent home from school. in maryland, almost 60,000 students were suspended. >> if a child cannot read, they act out. if the child does not have any support at home, let's provide that child a mentor in school to make sure they get the guidance they need. >> the state board of education has approved a new student discipline policy that comes up

with ways to reduce non-violent offenses instead of suspensions. meanwhile, pink slips are going to hundreds of baltimore city temporary employees. this could be as early as friday. this has put quite a few school principals in a tight spot. our education reporter tim tooten has the story. tim? >> it is the season to be jobless. that is exactly what is in store for some baltimore city employees over the next few days. you can expect administrators to make tough decisions. >> more building -- more belt- tightening on the way in baltimore. they may have to free of temporary employees by the end of the week. >> they are the glue that holds the school together. without them, sometimes you do not have as safe a school or your programs do not work. >> top administrators they are making the job cuts to avoid

duplicating positions. some have been on the payroll for more than three years. >> we said before you hire any temporary employee, the surplus union members must be placed. >> school officials said that they are feeling pressure from the teachers' union to make good on contract promises. >> i have a list right now of surplus employees. >> those jobs are being billed by temporary employees? >> apparently they are being billed by temporary employees, and that is a problem for us. >> and the system. >> we want our people placed in the positions that are available. >> the school principal hopes he can avoid passing on bad news. >> in these tough economic times, where we cannot afford a full position, they are a solution. >> how are you fighting for these exports i really need my two people. >> the majority of those

temporary jobs are based in schools. wbal tv-11 news. >> thank you. two children and a teenager are recovering. a 6-year-old, a 7-year-old, and a 17-year-old after they were all struck by a car while trying to cross the street. it happened at 8:00 this morning. baltimore county officials say that the teenager was helping the children across the street when all three were struck by a honda accord. preliminary investigation reveals it was pedestrian error. none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. a 23-year-old man is being treated at shock trauma after an early-morning crash in anne arundel county. veep two-vehicle accident -- the two-vehicle crash shutdown of portion of the roadway for two hours. no word on what caused the

crash. >> it has been kind of a mild day across the region. the gusty winds may make it feel chilly at times. gusting at over 20 miles per hour. especially in eastern maryland. it is diminishing, or least trying to, a little bit in the mountains. if you look closely, you will see a lightning strike or two in the new york city area. a little under tracking through metro new york to these seven areas of long island. now in the west, a stronger cold front headed this way for thursday night into friday. details on that in a couple of minutes. >> a health scare on the campus of umbc. we have for that someone has contracted tuberculosis. >> and as some ask questions about the tragedy at sandy hook

elementary, parents need to figure out the better way to answer them. about a child psychologist suggests we handle fears and anxieties of children. >> looking for a new place to live tonight. the latest on what sparked these destructive flames one week before christmas. >> christmas is just one week away. how are

>> an investigation is underway tonight on what sparked these claims that the bauer home in the undock. -- -- that consumed this home in done about. thankfully no one was hurt, but everyone that live there have been displaced. new details in the kidnapping and the rescue findings later of nbc correspondents richard engel. he and his crew are safely out of syria, but we are hearing more about their time in the war-torn country. engel says there were 15 kidnappers, heavily armed, all wearing ski masks. they drag them out of their car

and took them to interrogation areas where the ordeal continued. he spoke about the experience on "today" this morning. >> we were not physically beaten or tortured. it was a lot of psychological torture. choosing who would be shot first. there were mock shootings. when you are blindfolded, but they fire a gun up in the air. >> the kidnappers did execute at least one of his escorts at the time of their capture. he says that the captors were talking openly about their loyalty to the government during the ordeal. they escaped during a firefight between their captors and rebels at a checkpoint. >> we begin tonight medical alert with a disturbed during --

disturbing discovery on the umbc. the baltimore county health department confirmed someone was diagnosed with tuberculosis. a letter was sent to everyone at the university. they will not confirm whether the person is a staff member or a student, but they do say that that person has been isolated. tuberculosis is an airborne disease. officials want to emphasize it is difficult to contract through typical campus life. it is difficult to understand why someone would shoot and kill 20 innocent children, but psychologists say you should not avoid that conversation, especially if your child is curious about it. parents are struggling with their own emotions. psychologists say be honest, but reassuring that they are safe. >> you will keep them safe. >> you want to know how they feel about. not telling them how they feel.

asking and listening. >> all the children killed or between the ages of 5 and 10. be sensitive to the way that your child copes with any dramatic situation. it is also suggested you keep routines at home as normal as possible during this era -- difficult time. and a new message from medstar in eastern baltimore county. the facility is launching a massive fund-raising campaign to improve its neonatal unit. officials say they need more modernized equipment to treat the baby's there with the best care -- to treat the babies

there with the best care possible. >> we will get every patient a private room. we will give every mother the opportunity to experience the peaks and valleys by themselves and not have to share a curtain. >> they treat baltimore and hartford county as well as cecil county. >> now your insta-weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> temperatures will cool off a little bit. but so far below for today is lower than the normal high temperature for today. there with the best care possible. >> we will get every patient a privatebelow is warmer than norl high. the normal high is 44. we almost hit 60 officially at dwi marshall. we may have hit the 60 degree mark the been the record low for the day -- 7. the record high, 72 in 2006. we did not get much rain. a lot of wind. gusty winds. but overall, just a trace of precipitation since midnight at dwi marshall. the total precipitation -- we have just days ago and we are

certainly below normal for the year. 5.72 inches below normal. you can see this weather system tracking to our north. it is scattered and moving off the course. these showers are coming across new england. these are thunderstorms. 52 in new york. we dropped to 49 at the airport. there is cool air trying to come behind this front. there is whether coming from central and eastern maryland trying to work its way in. partly cloudy skies. the western maryland mountains -- you will start to see some rain and snow showers mixed in. generally dry east of the mountains tonight with weather ranging from freezing in the outlying suburbs to 45 in town. those conditions will be diminishing a bit. you see this one big storm. that already passed through

today. there is another one mobilizing out west. that is the one that will catch us at the end of the week and finally bring in some colder weather. so get outside and enjoy it a mostly sunny wednesday. a band of showers -- maybe some thunderstorms. those are moving through sunday night. once that gets off the coast, then this drive through. a lot of lake effect snows. it looks like there is southern snow in western maryland or the winter storm watches in the fact and we could have snow friday afternoon going into saturday. things are going to change when that thursday night front moves on through. a little on the breezy side, but not like today. when is will only range 10 k nots. thursday into friday --

sunshine. rain changing into snow. temperatures will fall. it will be quite wintry out there on friday. ocean city -- showers, maybe a thunderstorm thursday night into friday. the insta-weather plus seven-day -- gusty winds as the front moves through friday morning. weaken ties only in the low 40's. >> all right. thank you. we are a week before christmas. >> and the one gift you can expect in your stocking this year -- better prices at the gas,. how retailers are preparing for december 25. >> still no deal on the fiscal cliff, and

weather -- >> whether or not you have finished your shopping, those gifts are going to be unwrapped a week from now. >> there you go. as the mad dash for those gifts takes off, there is one thing

you can count on. rob roblin is live. >> the gas prices are inching down. but according to aaa, they are higher than they were a year ago. they are 6 cents higher than they were a year ago at this time. that is the bad news. the good news -- people are going to the stores and they are buying. >> it has been great. we have an extra week this year of shopping. >> the mall manager says that so far this christmas season businesses looking good. >> this weekend is going to be a big weekend coming up. it is that extra weekend. all signs are it will be better than last year. >> store managers i talked with say with the week to go before christmas they are hopeful this will be one of their best shopping seasons peeping >> every day since the beginning of december we have seen more and

more people in the mall and in our store. >> one more week to go until christmas. what are you expecting? >> hopefully tons and tons of people. >> well folks -- while folks hope that the bad weather will help their business -- >> so far. >> one week to go before christmas. >> and hopefully we will get a few snowflakes to sell the boots. you do need to sell the boots. >> sales are strong. compared to last year, what is it like for you guys? >> i think it will be better than last year. the early shopping is better than last year. i know the end shopping will be as well as it always has. i think the numbers are going to be better. >> now to customers have more confidence in the economy? and does that translate into spending more money this christmas? that depends on who you talk to. >> are you buying more or less

for christmas shopping this year? >> about the same as we did last year. friday, we made some presents. >> actually, i am buying a little bit more because i have a grandbaby now. >> more or less or the same? >> more. it is all for this guy. >> more or less? >> i am getting more this year. spending money, cannot hold onto it. >> that is the truth. can not hold onto it. you level week to buy those gifts. talking about the gas prices. once again, they are 6 cents higher than a year ago, but aaa expects more people to be driving this holiday. reporting live, wbal tv-11 news. . >> thank you. seven days to christmas, but there is another countdown. the fast-approaching fiscal

cliff. >> the president and top republicans are digging their heels into the sand. >> we will talk to a mental health expert

>> you are watching wbal-tv 11 news. live, local, late breaking. this is 11 news at 5:00 p.m. with stan stovall, donna hamilton, your insta-weather plus forecast with cheap meteorologist tom tasselmyer, and sky team 11 covering -- chief meorologist tom tasselmyer, and sky team led

uncovering the news where you live. >> a new normal in the town of newtown, conn. students are coming home for the first day of school after the massacre as the town buries its 20 young children. of course, the tragedy has shined a light on many issues from school security to a mental health. >> it is a real problem in this trouble -- in this country. our 11 news reporter has our report on how something we should handle mental health challenges. >> leaders across the country are struggling with how to make sure something like this never happens again. on meet the press' sunday morning, the governor of connecticut talk about mental health and gun control. >> there are certain problems in our society that have to be addressed.

>> he is part of a number of columbia-based psychologists. he says once a person becomes too old for it services offered in school, he or she may slip through the cracks. >> there have been significant reductions in mental health. community mental health care. that system has become frayed over the years. there is no safety net for people who are struggling. >> he says the profession has gotten better at diagnosing and preventing. but often it takes a brush with the law for people to get access to treatment any. when it comes to preventing situations like sandy hook, things get more complicated. >> we do not have as good a sense as we would like to have about who may be violence. but that is preventable with legislation, if we look more carefully at our policies.

>> maryland lawmakers established a task force over the summer to look at laws with regards to mental health issues and access to firearms. the results of that report will be released to the governor and the legislature on december 31. wbal tv-11 news. >> here's a look of some of our other top stories at this hour. new calls for maryland lawmakers and law enforcement for a gun violence crackdown, calling it a public health epidemic. the baltimore county police chief james johnson wants new gun control laws in the wake of the connecticut tragedy. some ideas include taking steps to make sure that gun owners are responsible and look at the kinds of weapons that might be available. governor malloy says to the demonstration will look at introducing new laws to prevent -- gov. o'malley says his

administration look at introducing new laws to prevent mass shootings. >> racing officials made an announcement this afternoon, approving a 10-year deal last week that guarantees pimlico and laurel park will stay open year round for racing. governor o'malley says that it is huge for the racing industry, preserving jobs for years to come. fans who want to attend free next year can start buying tickets next friday. and hundreds of temporary baltimore county school employees could be losing their jobs. many administrators say they are making the job cuts to avoid duplicating positions, some of which have been on the payroll for more than three years. they are also feeling pressure from teachers' unions to make good on contract promises. >> 13 days before the fiscal cliff hits. good news and bad news out of washington. let's start with the good news.

president obama and house speaker john boehner have agreed on a tax hike on the very rich. the bad news -- they cannot agree on who falls under that category. we have more from capitol hill. >> protesters came to the capital demanding republicans agree to tax hikes on the top 2% of americans, the original obama plan he campaigned on. but speaker john boehner is promoting a new plan, which he calls plan b. >> tax hikes on the top 1%. we will go back to the clinton era. >> plan b would protect american taxpayers to make $1 million or less and have all of their current rates extended. >> but president obama says not good enough. his new proposal is too high taxes on earnings above 400,000

and cut spending an additional $1.42 trillion. >> it seems like folly to walk away from that opportunity because you do not want to ask someone making $995,000 a year to pay a dime more of income taxes. >> some republicans say the speaker is going too far agreeing to raise taxes on anyone. >> i hated. once you cross that line -- i hate it. once you cross that line. i do not think it is right. >> most republicans realize the top rate will rise, period. >> we have got to get more cuts. >> democrats say we have to get tax hikes on more of the rich. and the deal to avoid the fiscal cliff could be spoiled by disagreements over taxes and spending. wbal tv-11 news. >> and as the national debate

rages, there are 500 stores nationwide suspending the sale of assault-style rifles. >> we will tell you which sports chain is taking a stand, next. >> the governor says he is likely to push for a weapons ban. >> but first, a man who opened fire into a california mallhqhqq

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>> here is the starling story for you. a california man who police say fired gunshots outside up a crowded mall says he did to relieve the stress. he shot 50 rounds from his pistol at a mall in newport beach on sunday. he was depressed about the death of his grandmother and upset about being kicked out of his family from home. he said that he did not intend

to shoot anyone. no one was injured in that shooting. and dix sporting goods -- dick's sporting goods is removing assault weapons from its stores. the store says the changes come from respect in the wake of the shooting in newtown, conn. meanwhile, the company that makes one of the weapons used in the shooting is being put up for sale by its management. >> the fiscal cliff could have you digging deeper into your pockets whether or not the nation goes over the edge peeping >> and why farmers are concerned that all of this call will make the price of milk

skyrocket. -- all this talk will make the price of milk skyrocket. >> an emotional plea from a young student at sandy hook elementary school has -- and help people across the nation are answering his call to action and to pay it forward. >> gusty winds. we will see how chilly i

>> coming up tonight at 6:00 -- in the wake of the sandy hook massacre, new calls for new regulations on assault weapons. plus, house speaker john boehner looks at a plan be when it comes to the fiscal cliff in washington. those stories and

>> at the mayor issued a challenge, and the students stepped up. stuart hill elementary has claimed the prize in a citywide competition. the southwest baltimore school has a 95% daily attendance average, which is amazing. that is up from 90% last year. the prize? lunch with the ravens. how much fun is that. >> very nice. very nice. setting up the christmas trees. very festive for the holiday. >> they are really doing it, aren't they?

skycam 11 shows two houses lit up. the favorite at the newsroom is the one with the blinking lights. >> show us your holiday lights. go to our facebook page. show us a picture of your decorations and lights, and it selected, we will show off your house on 11 news at 5:00. >> now your 11 news insta- weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> 15 degrees warmer than normal at dwi marshall. sunspots were even at that 60- degree mark. it was a mild december day for sure, but not a record. -- some spots were even at the 60-degree mark. chillier temperatures coming in, but really not all that bad for this time of year. we can see this whether system passing off to the north. -- we can see this weather

system passing off to the north. if you look at these temperatures, 49 at the airport now. temperatures in the 20's in the northern lakes. that cooler air is going to try to work its way through tonight, but it is just a quick hitting chilly air mass. there is a stronger cold front expected thursday night, friday morning. overnight tonight, clear to partly cloudy. snow showers in the higher elevations. temperatures around here to get closer to freezing by morning. west wins, which have been fairly strong through most of the day -- west winds, which have been fairly strong to most of the dead. one big storm. the next one is getting organized west of the rockies. that is the one that will drag in some colder air.

tomorrow should be a sunny day. temperatures will bounce back to above normal. we see that storm tracking through ohio friday afternoon, reaching baltimore thursday evening. northern michigan, maybe into chicago, as we get into thursday night -- that's no work its way into the western mountains -- that snow will work its way into the western mountains. while you can come and enjoy these temperatures. tomorrow back into the 50's with plenty of sunshine. in the bay area tomorrow, winds will be brisk. md. -- snow showers tonight. than the rain and snow showers return and it looks like all out snow on friday. friday into saturday, it looks like some chilly air will finally come into the ski resort areas.

lower eastern shore, nice, sunny day tomorrow. the rain on thursday -- probably not until sunset or beyond. temperatures will be cooling a bit. mid-40's on friday. sunny skies with a high of 43. christmas day, 41. increasing cloudiness with a high of 42. >> in tonight's consumer alert, the government is slapping toyota with a record-breaking fined for failing to -- once again -- failed to report safety problems to federal regulators. toyota will have to cough up the maximum fine allow by law. the autumn maker failed to report in a timely manner problems with floor mats in some 2010 lexus suv's. this is the largest ever fine

ever levied against an auto maker for a single violation. , and are you willing to pay for milk? -- how much are you willing to pay for milk? how about $6 per gallon? that is what some farmers think if congress does not pass of farm bill. with no farm bill, the way that your milk is price could revert to a 1949 law and caused dairy prices to surge. officials with the international ocean conservation groups says many sushi bars replaced seafood with the lower quality. the one you want to look out for? white snapper. it is mislabeled 80% of the

time. >> the substitution of tilefish for red snapper, and tilefish is one of the fish that the fda advises women and young children to avoid. >> 95% of fish labeled white tuna turned out to be escolar. an industry trade group has set up a better seafood board. its members promised to label seafood according to state and federal laws. with christmas just seven days away, you may want to consider some gadgets. here is a look at some of the biggest hits of the year and you may have not heard of some of them. take a look at the bubble scot. it takes 360-degree photos. other notable highlights -- the

samsung galaxy camera, the nintendo wii u. and even the nintendo tablets. it can be used in the nintendo game play experience, which is completely different from the ipad. >> we want to give you an update on the breaking news we told you about at the top of the our. public works crews are at the scene of a damaged water main in dundalk. 2600 homes in the area are being impacted. they have at least a temporary water outage. we're told it happened when a contractor somehow damaged at the main leading to that tank. with the sandy hook tragedy, the second worst mass shooting in u.s. history, we're no stranger to that kind of violence in maryland.

you may be surprised by the next report. >> you can help a military family stay in a hotel like this for free. i will explain, coming up.

>> touched by the tragedy at sandy hook elementary, many people are showing their support with simple and touching acts of kindness. family members who could not attend the monday night's

funeral ogpu noah pozner, were able to send letters. and it is that pay if forward spirit after dan curry -- ann curry spoke of acts of kindness and painted for. >> and match and if everyone did to an act of kindness for those children. >> may we focus our energy on those taken from us and let their memories inspired us to do good. may we work toward bettering our communities. we would like to know how people across the baltimore area and maryland are stepping up. if you have witnessed or been the recipient of any random acts of kindness, tell us about it. head to our website --

wbaltv.com. you can tell us your story. >> a lot of people can make charitable contributions this time of year. there is one that you should consider that will not cost you a dime. >> we have the story. >> he was awarded a purple heart for his service in the military overseas. >> they donated a harbor past and they went to cv attractions around the city. they took a speedboat to were around the city. -- speedboats -- speed boat tour. >> and the best part? they stayed at the hotel for free. they took part in a program called hotels for heroes. anyone can donate their marriott reward points. >> the fact that these folks gave up so much to protect us, it is just a great initiative to get behind. >> military members go through the non-profit fisher house and

they can book a stay at any marriott world wide. robert knows the value of the program. he is getting ready to deploy as a civilian to afghanistan and works closely with the military. >> it is an opportunity to help folks in dire times, stressful times to takes some stress and load off of their shoulders. so they can deal with things more comfortably while their family member is healing. >> robert donates to the program and urges others to do the same. >> that military member's family help live style will improve. >> you can contact marriott over the fun. wbal tv-11 news. >> what a nice program for this time of year. i love it. >> here is what is new at 6:00. >> the governor is likely to push for a ban on assault weapons.

how many such weapons are owned in maryland, coming up. >> legislatures want to look -- legislators from around the state want to look closer at maryland gun laws. >> close, but still no deal on the fiscal cliff and now there is the plan be option. we will explain. [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> you are watching wbal-tv 11 news. live, local, late breaking. this is 11 news at 6:00 p.m. >> two more children laid to rest in newtown, conn., two days after the tragic shooting at sandy hook elementary school. those who attend sandy hook elementary have not gone back, but others in the area have returned with grief counseling. >> i do not think you are ever ready after something like this happens. but as much as we can get back to normal, we have to. to normal, we have to. >>